5,000+ Texans Gather in Austin to Kick Off Fight the Trump Takeover Rallies Nationwide
AUSTIN, Texas — Today, over 5,000 Texans gathered on the South Steps of the State Capitol for the National Day of Action anchor rally.
LIVESTREAM: Austin Fight the Trump Takeover Rally
The “Fight the Trump Takeover” anchor rally in Austin brought together a broad coalition of progressive organizations, elected officials, and grassroots leaders speaking out against President Donald Trump and Governor Greg Abbott’s attempts to draw new redistricting maps, restrict the rights of transgender Texans, further eliminate abortion access, and detain innocent people — while failing to address flood relief, access to healthcare, quality education or gun safety. This event kicked off the National Day of Action, with over 30,000 people attending more than 300 events planned in 43 states, plus Washington, D.C.
At today’s rally, Dolores Huerta, Co-Founder of United Farm Workers, said:
“I’ve been organizing for 70 years. People here today are the patriots who will continue to fight for our democracy. We are in the fight to save democracy — not just in Texas or the United States, but the whole world. The eyes of the world are upon Texas right now.”
Beto O’Rourke, Former Congressman, said:
“In 1973, abortion was just as illegal in Texas as it is today. No one outside this state rose to our rescue, but three women from Texas did. Do not [mess] with the women of Texas, or you will find out.
“If [Trump and Abbott] are unsuccessful in this theft and cannot maintain their purchase of power, there will be a check on their lawlessness. They want us to bend the knee because they’ve seen the elite doing that. But in Texas, our knees do not bend.”
Rep. Greg Casar, District 35, U.S. House of Representatives, said:
“Yesterday, I went to the detention center here in Austin because we heard that people were burning up inside, and they wouldn’t let me in. Trump also just signed a bill to kick 17 million people off of healthcare. The only answer to oligarchy is organizing. In the heart of darkness, we’re a shining light.”
Rep. Lloyd Doggett, District 37, U.S. House of Representatives, said:
“We gather to fight the Trump takeover and say hell no, we’re not going to let you in next year with your crooked maps this year. That’s five more seats to deny 15 million Americans access to a doctor, to add restrictions to women’s rights. We don’t need the national guard on our streets. We need national guardrails on a lawless president. We cannot remain the land of the free unless we are all truly the home of the brave. That’s what is at stake in this redistricting attempt.”
Favi Orrostieta, Sandy Creek resident and Volunteer Site Coordinator, whose community was devastated by the Hill Country floods said:
“We have a disaster right here in Texas. Where are our tax dollars now? Why are we not at the forefront of the agenda for [Abbott’s] special session?”
Leonard Aguilar, Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer, said:
“With this redistricting scheme, Abbott is trying to restrict the Black and Brown vote. Labor has been in this fight since day one and now there are thousands of people across the country at over 300 actions across the country, all starting here in Austin. This is an attack on working people across Texas, and we have to come together because there are more of us than them.”
Oni Blair, Executive Director, ACLU Texas, said:
“We want a state where our elected officials care and address our real issues, and are held accountable when they don’t. Instead, the President and Governor are lying about our immigrant neighbors being a threat, redrawing maps to choose who votes for them, policing who uses what bathroom, censoring what students learn and what books they read, and preventing Texans from getting the healthcare we need, including access to abortion.”
Brianna Brown, Co-Executive Director of the Texas Organizing Project said:
“Right now, in Austin, they’re pouring energy into cruelty instead of healthcare because we refuse to play into their rigged game. We have the nerve to reject apartheid conditions that have the minority ruling over us and not representing us.”
Tania A. Chavez Chamaco, Executive Director, LUPE Votes, said:
“Time and time again, congressional districts in Texas determine the quality of life for the most vulnerable, for the hundreds of families whose loved ones are being kidnapped and disappeared. Time and time again, Texas is found to have discriminated against the rights of Latinos. Nothing is more dangerous than corrupt systems in a community brave enough to fight for it.”
Felicia Martin, Executive Director of Texas Freedom Network, said:
"Thanks to the organizing and actions of Texans, everyone across the nation is now aware of the attempted Trump takeover of our state. Gov. Abbott is fueling a coordinated national effort to manipulate electoral maps and undermine fair representation, but we're showing them that Texans will not remain silent while extremist politicians attempt to rig the system in their favor.
"Our rallies across the nation are inspiring others to join in and be ready to respond, because we know our work is far from over. Texas Freedom Network will continue to mobilize at the Capitol and in communities across Texas to defend fair representation, our freedoms, and democratic values. We call on all Texans to remain engaged as this fight for the future of democracy continues."
Wanda Mosley, Deputy Policy Director for Black Voters Matter said:
“Instead of worrying about maps not to be redrawn for five years, have your elected officials actually done anything to help the people? This is the moment where we the people demand change and remind elected officials, you work for us.”
Emmett Schelling, Executive Director, Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT) said:
“The continued attack on trans Texans is yet another example of the attacks on Texans’ freedom, liberty and autonomy. Before any flood relief was filed, we saw both the Texas House and Senate file a bathroom bill. This is failed leadership motivated by failed priorities. Texas has the second highest pop of transgender people. We are your friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Trans people are the canaries in the coal mine of the civil rights movement. Don’t let the evidence of our warnings fall on deaf ears.”
Drucilla Tigner, Executive Director of Texas for All, said:
“Our hope for the Day of Action is to show loud and clear that the American people are worth more than power grabs and distractions. We are showing up, at state capitols in communities around the country, to demand justice, accountability, and for our voices to be heard.”
Rev. Dr. Michael Waters of Dallas, Texas said:
“160 summers after Juneteenth, we are again living a Texas nightmare. 60 years since the passage of the Voting Rights Act, this bill has been gutted and eroded. Trump’s demand for redistricting in Texas, which Texas lawmakers still have time to courageously oppose, threatens to make Texas an apartheid state. Instead of prioritizing flood victims and their families that left over 100 souls dead, Gov. Abbott is bringing on another flood.”
Fight the Trump Takeover Rally Austin Partners:
- Battleground Texas Engagement Fund
- CWA
- Deeds Action Fund
- LUPE Votes
- MOVE Texas Action Fund
- Planned Parenthood Texas Votes
- Public Citizen
- Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT)
- Texas AFL-CIO
- Texas for All
- Texas Freedom Network
- Texas Working Families Party
- Workers Defense Action Fund
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Texas For All and Texas For All Education Fund are statewide coalitions building a democracy in which all Texans are represented, engaged, and thriving. Texas For All works collectively to defend democracy, protect access to the ballot box, and ensure that education and healthcare are accessible. Our goal is to mobilize the majority of Texans who want to create a state that works for all communities.
MOVE Texas Action Fund is a grassroots nonprofit organization mobilizing young Texans to influence policy and electoral change.
The Texas AFL-CIO is the state labor federation consisting of 240,000 affiliated union members and advocates for working people in Texas. Learn more at texasaflcio.org